Valve adapted for use in powder dispensers



June 24, 1958 A- TOWNHILL VALVE ADAPTED FOR USE IN POWDER DISPENSERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 18, 1956 INVENTOR.

5% fzug June 24, 1958 ow 2,840,278

VALVE ADAPTED FOR USE IN POWDER DISPENSERS Filed Dec. 18, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AQTf/Z E Jw/w-m. 1.,

' IN VEN TOR.

VALVE ADAIYIED FOR USE IN POWDER DISPENSERS Arthur Townhill, Pacific Palisades, I Calif., or to United States Borax & Chemical Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif, a corporation of Nevada the handle 26 strilting the upper end of slot 28 in apron 29 (Fig, 2) limits the upper position.

terial, such as powdered soap; and its purpose is, among other things, in the type of reciprocablevalves-such as shown in Dudley Patents 2,311,330 and 2,557,387, to provide for adjustment of measuring and delivery volume.

Although the invention is not necessarily limited to use in a Dudley type dispenser, it can best be understood, and so is described, in connection with such a dispenser. For the purpose of this description, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, which show valves that are illustrative of my invention, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a dispenser equipped with one form of my new valve, showing the valve in its normal, lowermost position;

Figs. 2 and 3 are detail sections showing the valve in its upper and intermediate positions, respectively;

Figs. 4a, 4b and 4c, are diagrammatic sections showing the valve parts in the several differentmeasuring capacities for which it may be set;

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective showing the parts of the valve;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 2; a

Fig. 7 is an elevation, with parts in section, showing another form of my new valve; p,

Figs. 8 and 8a are sections on lines 8-8 and 8a8a of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective of this other form of the valve; and I Figs. 10a, 10b and 100, are fragmentary sections showing the valve parts in their several positions for the several different capacities.

The Dudley type dispenser typically involves a powder container 10 with a sloping bottom 12-1eading to an opening 14 through which the vertically reciprocable valve carries the powder by reciprocation between an upper position in which its powder receiving pockets are above opening 14, and a lower position in which the pockets are below that opening and the powder drops out. In the Dudley dispenser the powder drops from the measuring pockets into a space enclosed bya supplemental bottom 16 which has a final delivery opening at 18. A charge of powder that has been carried through upper opening 14 on the valve down-stroke is then finally delivered through lower opening 18 when the valve, in its uppermost position, opens that lower opening 18. The valve is of such length that the two openings 14 and 18 are never open at the same time, thus preventing continuous discharge of the powder.

As mentioned above, my new valve is not limited to use in a Dudley type dispenser. as a reciprocating, or even as a rotary valve, to deliver powder from one opening to another, or simply to deliver powder through a single opening. However, since it has been specifically designed for use in the Dudley type dispenser, it will'be described in that form. d

In practice, openings 14 and 18, of equal size, are circular, although that is not necessary' Accordingly the practical form of my valve, designated generally 20, is of generalcylindric form to fit the two openings. It is mounted on the vertically reciprocable rod or stem 22. A stop at 24 limits the lower valve posit-ion (Fig. 1); and

For instance, it can be used The valve, as shown in Figs. 1 to 6, has a generally cylindric lower body 30, and an upper part 32 that is also generally cylindric and in theform of a cap with ahead 34, a depending circular flange 36, and with spaced fingers or projections 38 depending from the flange. These depending projections are of equal width and equally spaced so that the slots 40 between them are of equal widths. These projecting fingers, as shown here, are three in numher but that is no limitation on the invention; their number can be anything practicable.

The lower body 30 has a series (here three) of projections 42 on its cylindric surface. These projections have their ,upper ends 44 at a distance below the top of the body, and-those upper ends are preferably beveled down and out so as to readily shed the powder in the measuring pockets, as will appear. Projections 42 are of equal widths and are equally spaced around the body and define, between them grooves or slots 46 of equal widths. The widths of slots 46 are such as to take depending fingers 38 snugly, but freely, when the valve is assembled by slipping cap 32 down over body 30. And the slots 40 in the cap similarly take the body projections 42. In its assembled condition (see Fig. 1, for instance) the depending flange 36 of the cap hangs down over the upper end of the body. How much it hangs down over that upper end depends, as will appear,on the adjusted position to which the cap is set. In any of its adjusted positions, the upper ends 50 of the cap slots 40 are spaced above the upper ends 44 of the body projections. It is that-spacing that forms the measuring pockets of the valve; theirvsize and capacity depending on the vertical position; of ,thecap with relation to the body. ,These measuring pockets, as clearly shown in the drawings, are spaced'aroundthe valve. annular'pocket which would be more liable to clog the delivery if the. powder should tend to cake. And it will also be noted that the pocket depth does not change with change in measuring size of the pockets. And it will further be noted that the upper ends 50 of the cap slots in the highest adjusted position (see c. g. Fig. 4a) are not above the upper end of the body; so that the space between that upper end and the cap head 34 is not open to receive powder.

It is apparent from what has been said that the cap may be assembled on the body in anyone of a plurality of rotative positions-three as illustrated here. Means are provided for supporting the cap at different vertical positions for each of its three, rotativepositions. That means may take many forms. As an illustration of one suitable means, Figs. 1 to 6 show the body equipped with two upstanding pins 54 of different heights, spaced apart 120 about the vertical axis of the body. The cap head 34 has two holes 56 also spaced 120 apart at the same radius as the pins. The pins and holes are so located that in one of the rotative positions of the cap on the body (Fig. 4c) both pins 54 project up into or through the two holes 56. The cap then can set down with the under side of its head 34 resting on the top of the body. In this lowermost po-.

' positions (see Fig. 4b) the longer pin 54 projects up They do not form a continuous 54 does not register with a hole and supports the cap in its highest position, pockets P being then of the largest size. 1 a

In any of these positionsfthe cap may simply. rest. on the body by its own weighhor it may be held .down by any suitable means, such for instance as the'spring ring 6!! which maybe slid up on stem .22 when the .cap is moved up to be re-set. j

As will be seen from the drawings, the assembled .valve, as a whole, has a cylindric exterior in which the only openings or depressions are those formed by the measuring pockets P.

The foregoing description assumes that the valve is secured on stem 22b.yhaving its body 30 secured on. the stem. That is preferred; but it will be readily realized that it is only necessary to secureone of the parts 30 or 32 to the operating means (here the stem 22) and to mount the other one of the parts either on the operating means or merely on the secured part. For instance, as here shown body 30 is mounted on the operating stem 22 and cap 32is shown as'having an upper head boss 34a slidable and rotatable on the stem. However, insofar as the valve itself is concerned, the cap can be mounted solely on the body. In the illustrated dispenser the stern projects up above the valve merely for convenience in guiding it at its upper end. But it could, for example, be guided by other arrangements which would not involve the stem projecting above the valve body. V

Figs. 7 to show another form of the valve, differing in a few particulars from the form of Figs. 1 to 6. In the form of Figs. 1 to 6, the bottoms, or back surfaces of the slots 46 between body projections 42, and the inner faces of ling'ers 3 8, are cylindric in shape and the upper part of the body, above the upper ends of projections 42, is cylindric. In the form of Figs. 7 to 10, the bottoms or back surfaces 468101? those slots between the projections 42 are flat. And the upper part-30b of thebodyj 30a abovethe upper ends of 42 is hexagonal in shape rather than cylindric. The cap 32a,has a hexagonal interior (see Fig. 8) and the inner faces 38b of the projecting fingers 38aare flat (see FigLBa). l

i In two of the flat faces 46a ofrthe body recesses 56a and 56b are formed, extending down different distances from the body top: For instance recess 56b is deeper than 56a. On one of the inner faces of the cap 32a there is a projecting lug 54a'whieh is adapted either to seat on the top of the body (Fig. 100) or in the shallower recess 56a (Fig. 10b) or in the deeper recess 56b (Fig. 10a). The cap is thus supported at different heights on the body to form the pockets lof different sizes. v

Otherwise the form of Figs, 7 to 10 is the same and has the same features and'characteristics that have been explained in connection WithFigsgj l. to 6. The form of Figs. 7 to 10 has a specific advantage that it can be completely made, with its setting stops,'biy' simple die casting operations necessitating .uo machine work. Either form, however, provides a valve of simple structure definitely settable to different measuring capacities by very simple operations. L

From what has been said it will be understood that the valve need not be cylindric inexternal form. To. 'providefor its various adjustments by relative rotative adjustments between the cap and body it is only necessary that both members, and the valve as a whole, be symmetric about the vertical, or longitudinal, axis. It is only described here as cylindric to fitthe preferably circular openings 14.and 18 of the described dispenser."

l. A valve structure of the character described, com prising two members each symmetric in form with respect to a longitudinal axis, said members having portions equally spaced about the axis which mutually interengage by relative longitudinal movement in any of a plurality of relatively rotated positions about said axis, and said members also having portions which define material-receiw ing pockets of size dependent on the relative longitudinal positions of the members, and means setting the two members in different relative longitudinal positions for their several relative rotative positions.

2. A valve structure ofthe eharacter described, comprising two members each symmetric in form with respect to a longitudinalaxi's',jeach of said'membcrs having a plurality of longitudinally extending projections and intcrvening slotsjequally spaced about-the axis, the projectionsof one of -said members adapted to enter andibe longitudinally movable in the slots of the other, the slots of said othenmember-having closed ends, and means for setting the membersin predetermined relative longitudinal position with the closed ends of the slots spaced from the projections in said slots to form thcrebetiyeen material receiving. pockets i e 3. The valve structurelof claim 2 and in which the pro jections of one of said 'members are adapted to enter the slots of the other in any one of a plurality of positions distinguished from each other by relative rotation of one member about the axis, and the means for setting the members including means which set the members in different relative longitudinal positions for each of the several rotatively different positions.

4. The valve structure of claim 3 and in which the last mentioned means is formed by interengaging step clements on the two members.-

5. A valve structure of the character described, com

prising two members each symmetric in form with respect to a longitudinal axis, one of said members being in the form'of a body with a plurality of longitudinally extending projections of equal widths and equally spaced about the body periphery, the other ofsaid members being in the form of a cap with a head, an axially extending flange and a plurality of fingers projecting axially from the flange, said fingers being of such width and so spaced as to longitudinally enter the spaces between the spaced body projections in any one of a plurality of relatively ro tated positions, with said cap flange encompassing an end of the body, and means for setting the body and cap in different relative longitudinal positions for each of their relatively rotated positions.

6. The valve structure of claim 5 and in which the last mentioned means is formed by interengaging stop elements on the body and cap.'

7. A valve structure of the character described, comprising two members each symmetric in form with respect to a longitudinal axis, one of said members being in the form of a body with a plurality of longitudinally extending projectionsof equal widths and equally spaced about' the body periphery, said projections having ends that are spaced longitudinally from-one end of the body, the other of said members being in the form of a cap with a head, an axially extending flange and a plurality of fingers projecting axially from the flange, said fingers being of such width and so spaced as to longitudinally enter the spaces between the spaced body projections in any one of a plurality of relatively rotated positions, said spaced fingers forming between them longitudinally extended slots with closed ends at the flange, said flange encompassing said end of the body, and means for setting the body and cap in different relative longitudinal positions for each of their relatively rotated positions, to space the projection ends and the cap slot ends different distances apart to form material receiving pockets of different sizes,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

